NIDA announces two online resources

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is pleased to announce two online resources - Substance Use in Women and Therapeutic Communities Research Report.

Women face unique issues when it comes to substance use, both biological (sex) and cultural (gender). This new online resource provides information on the importance of scientific research into sex and gender issues related to drug use. It includes research summaries about women and commonly abused drugs, including marijuana and prescription medications. Additionally, this new Web section summarizes the latest research related to drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding, along with what science has told us about sex and gender differences in drug addiction treatment. It also looks at other issues related to drug use, including co-occurring mental health disorders, women and violence, and the importance of including women in research.

Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are a common model of long-term residential treatment for substance use disorders. They have a recovery orientation, focusing on the whole person and overall lifestyle changes, not simply abstinence from drug use. This orientation acknowledges the chronic, relapsing nature of substance use disorders and holds the view that lapses are opportunities for learning. This revised Research Report discusses the approach, key components and effectiveness of TCs, how treatment is provided, and how TCs treat populations with special needs, including mental illness, homelessness, as well as for women and adolescents. It also addresses how TCs are integrated into the criminal justice system.

About the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy, improve practice, and advance addiction science. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found at www.drugabuse.gov, which is now compatible with your smartphone, iPad or tablet. To order publications in English or Spanish, call NIDA’s DrugPubs research dissemination center at 1-877-NIDA-NIH or 240-645-0228 (TDD) or email requests to drugpubs@nida.nih.gov. Online ordering is available at drugpubs.drugabuse.gov. NIDA’s media guide can be found at www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/dear-journalist, and its easy-to-read website can be found at www.easyread.drugabuse.gov. You can follow NIDA on Twitter and Facebook.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.